The Beachcomber partners with Vashon Island Visual Artists (ViVA) to highlight the vibrant arts community of Vashon. This week, longtime island art scene stalwart, painter and writer Margaret Tylczak tells us, in her own words, about her life and work. To learn more about ViVA artists, visit vivaartists.com.

My goal is to paint things that come out of my mind and onto the canvas in ways that are original and smile-worthy. Then give them titles that some people declare are better than the paintings. I don’t believe in copying what nature or nurture has done first and more perfectly, and I can’t compete at realism with an iPhone camera.

So for me, each blank canvas, or piece of metal, or a tile, or a tire swing, or a highway sign or a piece of wood is an opportunity. There are blue dots and yellow dots and other dots of color all around my abode. Not on purpose. Sometimes my hands and clothes get into the act.

I grew up in Shelton, lived in Chicago and Minneapolis, and now live on Vashon Island with my husband Eric Heffelfinger, a master goldsmith, and my dog Filson. My son is launched from home but lives in my heart.

I like words, too. I had a long career as a creative director at a lot of ad agencies, but at a certain point, I felt like I was in a box. So I took night classes at the Minneapolis Academy of Art and Design and to my relief, they didn’t make me take any of the first level classes or pose for the life drawing class.

The paintings I’ve created have gone home from Vashon’s Silverwood Gallery, which I owned with my husband for 18 years, The Heron’s Nest, Gather Gallery, Margaret In The Hallway, Vashon Allied Arts, in Portland at Oswego Lake Gallery, and venues in Santa Fe and Austin. I have sold in the neighborhood of 400 paintings.

My commissions often make people cry. With joy. That’s a good painting. I hope you enjoy my work. Please buy one if you are so moved. And contact me with any questions at margywords@gmail.com. See new work on Instagram: Margaret Heffelfinger.